The Apollos: Students Who Fought For MLK Holiday

By Tomas Palermo, January 21, 2008

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In 1981, Oakland Tech high school seniors lobbied the California state senate to officially recognize the MLK holiday. This video tells their story.

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The Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday was envisioned by its sponsors as "a day on, not a day off," in other words, citizens should engage in a day of volunteer action to honor MLK's life and hopes. For one Oakland, CA high school class, activism to honor King would last not just a day, but an entire year. In 1981, a group of Oakland Tech high school seniors, known by their class designation The Apollos, fought to make MLK a nationally recognized holiday. Like others working for the holiday nationally, initially their request fell on deaf ears.

The King federal holiday was introduced as a bill in Congress by Michigan Representative John Conyers, Jr. in 1968; following years of lobbying by unions, students and civil rights leaders, and only after Congress overwhelmingly passed the King Day Bill by an overwhelming majority, a reluctant Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law as a national holiday in 1983.

Before the holiday was recognized nationally, The Apollos did their part and took the fight to California's state capital Sacramento where they walked the halls, talked to legislators, lobbied reluctant politicians and gave impassioned speeches on the State senate floor -- all while maintaining their other high school class responsibilities. The Apollos sacrificed mornings and weekends for their campaign, but were ultimately successful, as California officially recognized the King holiday.

Bay Area Video Coalition's (BAYVAC) film short, The Apollos is a poignant ode to grassroots youth activism, hard work and sustained efforts. On January 17, 2000, Martin Luther King Day was officially observed in all 50 states.